JP2013082401A - Apparatus for melting ice/snow on vehicle windshield - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a user-friendly apparatus for melting ice/snow on a vehicle windshield, the apparatus configured to secure power necessary for engine start-up even after a long-term use without requiring a user to turn on a power switch in a vehicle at every use.SOLUTION: The apparatus for melting ice/snow on a vehicle windshield includes a planar heating element 20 to be attached to a vehicle windshield, a battery 30 as a power source for supplying power to the planar heating element 20, and a power supply switching control part 40 provided between the planar heating element 20 and the battery 30 to select whether to supply power to the planar heating element 20. The battery 30 is provided separately from a start-up power supply of the vehicle, and can be charged by a charging means 50. The power supply switching control part 40 is configured to use a timer means 44 for selecting whether to supply power to the planar heating element 20.

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle windshield ice and snow melting apparatus.

When parking outdoors in the winter in a so-called cold region, the surface of the windshield may freeze due to freezing of water vapor in the air adhering to the surface of the windshield or snow accumulation.
In such a state where the surface of the windshield is frozen, it is not possible to confirm the front through the windshield, and it is not possible to depart immediately after boarding, so the engine is started also for warm-up operation before departure Measures may be taken to heat the windshield surface with a car heater.

  However, since it takes a considerable amount of time to eliminate the frozen state of the windshield surface and secure the front view through the windshield, the environmental burden increases due to exhaust gas and carbon dioxide exhausted during warm-up operation. End up. In recent years, therefore, Patent Document 1 and the like have proposed a melting apparatus for snow, ice, etc. in a window glass of an automobile, which can eliminate the frozen state of the windshield without starting the engine and secure a front view in advance. ing.

  Patent Document 1 discloses a window sheet in which a sheet heating element in which both front and back surfaces of a heating element are coated with a heat-resistant material is shaped to fit a windshield of an automobile, and the window sheet to be fixed to a windshield or the like. A mounting tool such as a suction cup attached to a peripheral part of the window sheet, a cord having one end connected to a heating element in the sheet heating element of the window sheet and a connection terminal for a cigar lighter power source for the automobile at the other end The structure of a melting apparatus for snow, ice, etc. in a window glass of an automobile comprising the above is disclosed.

JP-A-8-53049

The snow and ice melting device (hereinafter simply referred to as snow and ice melting device) for automobile window glass disclosed in Patent Document 1 can be easily attached to the windshield of an automobile and the windshield. It is said that it is possible to eliminate the need for snow melting and de-icing work of the windshield before departure.
However, in the configuration of the snow and ice melting device in Patent Document 1, there is a problem that the user must perform an operation to turn on the switch in order to start the snow and ice melting device in the vehicle. In addition, because an in-vehicle battery is used as the power source for the melting device for snow, ice, etc., there is a risk that the power required to start the engine will be insufficient if used for a long time. There is a problem that there is a lot of room for improvement.

  Therefore, the present invention eliminates the need for the user to turn on the power switch to the inside of the vehicle every time it is used, and it is easy to use for a vehicle that can secure the necessary power when starting the engine even when used for a long time. The purpose is to provide a windshield ice and snow melting device.

As a result of diligent research to solve the above problems and achieve the object, the present inventor has conceived the following configuration.
That is, a sheet heating element attached to a windshield of a car, a power source for supplying power to the sheet heating element, and the sheet heating element disposed between the sheet heating element and the power source. A power supply switching control unit for switching on and off the power supply, and the power source is provided separately from the power source for starting the vehicle, and is provided so as to be rechargeable by charging means, The power supply switching control unit is a vehicle windshield ice and snow melting device configured to be able to perform on / off switching of power supply to the planar heating element by a timer means.

  In addition, the planar heating element has a fixing means for closely contacting the windshield. Thus, the amount of heat from the planar heating element is efficiently transmitted to the windshield, which is advantageous in that ice and snow frozen on the outer surface of the windshield can be quickly melted.

Further, as the fixing means, the sheet heating element is provided with a constant load spring and a suction cup formed so as to be capable of being wound, and the suction cup is adsorbed to the windshield in a state where the constant load spring is extended. Accordingly, it is preferable that the planar heating element is provided so as to be in close contact with the windshield.
Furthermore, the constant load spring is attached to the planar heating element so that the required range at both ends protrudes from the outer peripheral edge of the planar heating element, and the suction cup More preferably, it is attached to both ends, and the constant load spring is embedded in the planar heating element in a portion overlapping the planar heating element in plan view.
As a result, the sheet heating element can be easily adhered to the windshield, and the sheet heating element can be easily wound due to the property of the constant load spring. It can be made into a cylindrical shape.

  Further, the sheet heating element is formed with a fold line that allows the sheet heating element to be folded and accommodated. Thereby, when not using a planar heating element, it can be made compact and it is convenient in the point that accommodation becomes easy.

  According to the configuration of the vehicle windshield ice and snow melting device according to the present invention, it is possible to save the user from having to turn on the power switch to the inside of the vehicle every time the vehicle is used. In addition, even if the windshield ice / snow melting device for vehicles is used for a long time, there is no fear that the electric power required at the time of starting the engine will be insufficient, and it is possible to provide a vehicle windscreen ice / snow melting device that is easy to use.

It is a schematic block diagram of the windshield ice and snow melting | dissolving apparatus for vehicles concerning this embodiment. It is a top view of a planar heating element. It is aa sectional drawing in the A section in FIG. It is explanatory drawing about a constant load spring. It is a top view which shows an example of other embodiment of a planar heating element. It is a top view which shows an example of other embodiment of a graphite sheet. It is a top view which shows an example of other embodiment of a planar heating element.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of a vehicle windshield ice and snow melting device 10 according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
As shown in FIG. 1, a vehicle windshield ice / snow melting device 10 (hereinafter simply referred to as ice / snow melting device 10) is mounted on the interior surface of a vehicle windshield and heats the windshield at a required temperature. The body 20, the battery 30 that is a power source for supplying power to the sheet heating element 20, and the sheet heating element 20 and the battery 30 are arranged between the sheet heating element 20 and the power supply to the sheet heating element 20 -It has the power supply switching control part 40 which switches off, and the charging means 50 which charges the battery 30.

The planar heating element 20 according to the present embodiment will be described.
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the graphite sheet 22 is formed in a corrugated shape using a band-like body and having bent portions 23 at a required interval. Both ends of the graphite sheet 22 are formed so as to be close to each other. Such a graphite sheet 22 can be formed by punching press processing. Both ends of the graphite sheet 22 are formed on the power supply terminal 24 and are electrically connected to the battery 30 via the power supply switching control unit 40. In the extending direction (longitudinal direction) of the graphite sheet 22, a plurality of constant load springs 25 as fixing means insulated by the insulating coating 28 are arranged along the short direction of the graphite sheet 22 with a required interval. Has been.

  The graphite sheet 22 and the constant load spring 25 are laminated by a protective film 26 and are formed on the planar heating element 20. As the protective film 26, a synthetic resin sheet represented by PET (Polyethylene terephthalate), LCP (Liquid Crystal Polymer or Liquid Crystal Plastic), polyimide, or the like is preferably used. Lamination may be performed by a known method. In laminating, it is preferable that the shape of the protective film 26 is formed in advance so as to match the shape of the windshield of the car and to avoid the location of the rearview mirror. Thereby, the mounting | wearing of the planar heating element 20 to a windshield can be performed easily and appropriately. Further, the power supply terminal 24 and the constant load spring 25 are attached to the planar heating element 20 in a state where a required length protrudes from the outer peripheral edge of the planar heating element 20.

  The product name “Conston” of Sanko Spring Co., Ltd. is preferably used as the constant-load spring 25 that is formed so as to be capable of being wound and is used as an example of a fixing means for closely attaching the planar heating element 20 to the windshield. be able to. The constant load spring 25 in this specification includes what are referred to as “constant output spring”, “constant torque spring”, “constant tension spring”, “contact winding spring”, and the like. As shown in FIG. 2, suction cups 27 as fixing means are attached to both end portions of a constant load spring 25 as fixing means protruding from the outer peripheral edge of the planar heating element 20.

As shown in FIG. 4, the constant load spring 25 has a property of becoming a mainspring-like body (winding body) that circulates by being laminated in the plate thickness direction. Since the constant load spring 25 is integrally processed with the planar heating element 20, when the planar heating element 20 is not used, the planar heating element 20 can be made compact in a scroll shape.
Further, the constant load spring 25, when one end portion of the constant load spring 25 wound in a mainspring shape is pulled out, the required distance D on the radially outer side with respect to the take-out position X from the mainspring-like body portion due to the spring property. At the separated position Y, the pull-out side of the constant load spring 25 has a flat shape. That is, after all the planar heating element 20 wound in a roll shape is drawn out so as to be a flat body, the suction cups 27 at both ends of the constant load spring 25 are adsorbed to the inner side surface of the windshield. Due to the spring property of the spring 25, the planar heating element 20 is pressed against the inner surface of the windshield, and the planar heating element 20 can be brought into close contact with the windshield.

  The battery 30 used as a power source for the planar heating element 20 is disposed separately from the in-vehicle battery. The storage location of the battery 30 is convenient in the interior space, but if the storage space for the battery 30 cannot be secured in the interior space, it can be installed in the hood or trunk. The battery 30 and the power supply switching control unit 40 are connected by detachable power sockets 32 and 48 (see FIG. 1), and the battery 30 and the power supply switching control unit 40 are detachable. As such power sockets 32 and 48, adopting a so-called cigar power socket configuration is advantageous because an in-vehicle battery can be used as a power source for the planar heating element 20 in an emergency.

  The battery 30 is connected to a charging means 50 such as an alternator 52 and a solar power generation panel 54 attached to the outer surface of the vehicle via the power supply switching control unit 40. The battery 30 can be charged independently. As the charging means 50, at least one of the alternator 52 and the photovoltaic power generation panel 54 may be provided. The charging control to the battery 30 by the charging unit 50 can be performed by the charging control unit 42 provided in the power supply switching control unit 40. In particular, when the battery 30 is charged by the alternator 52, it is preferable to cause the charge control means 42 to perform alternator regeneration control. Thereby, the kinetic energy at the time of deceleration of the vehicle can be effectively used, and the battery 30 can be charged while suppressing fuel consumption of the vehicle.

The power supply switching control unit 40 will be described.
As the power supply switching control unit 40, an electric circuit type or mechanical type configuration can be adopted. The power supply switching control unit 40 includes a timer means 44 and a temperature management means 46 in addition to the charge control means 42. With the timer means 44 and the temperature management means 46, the power supply switching control unit 40 can switch the on / off state of the power supply from the battery 30 to the planar heating element 20 according to time conditions and temperature conditions. ing. The timer means 44 and the temperature management means 46 can adopt known configurations. The power supply switching control unit 40 having such a configuration may perform switching control of the on / off state of power supply from the battery 30 to the planar heating element 20 and charging operation control from the charging means 50 to the battery 30. it can.

A specific method of using the vehicle windshield / ice-snow melting device 10 described above will be described.
When the vehicle is parked outdoors during a winter period or the like, the user pulls out the end of the planar heating element 20 that is wound in a roll shape and expands it in a planar shape. A constant load spring 25 extends at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the planar heating element 20 developed in a planar shape, and a suction cup 27 is attached to the tip of the constant load spring 25. Adsorb to the inside surface of the windshield. When the constant load spring 25 that has been wound in the form of a roll is unfolded in a planar shape, a force that the constant load spring 25 tries to bend acts on the planar heating element 20 and suckers at both ends of the constant load spring 25. By adsorbing 27 to the windshield, the planar heating element 20 can be brought into close contact with the windshield.

  Next, after the user connects the power socket 32 of the battery 30 and the power socket 48 of the power supply switching control unit 40, the user operates the input unit (not shown) of the timer means 44 of the power supply switching control unit 40. The start time of the vehicle windshield ice / snow melting device 10 is set. This activation time is preferably set to be about 10 to 30 minutes earlier than the next time the car is used. After the user sets the start time of the power supply switching control unit 40, the user may get out of the vehicle by a normal procedure.

The timer means 44 of the power supply switching control unit 40 supplies power from the battery 30 to the planar heating element 20 at the start time set by the user, and starts the heating of the planar heating element 20. The temperature of the planar heating element 20 may be 10 ° C. or higher on the surface of the planar heating element 20. The temperature control of the planar heating element 20 is performed by the temperature management means 46 of the power supply switching control unit 40. As the temperature management means 46, for example, a thermostat can be employed. Although the upper limit temperature of the planar heating element 20 is not particularly limited, it is preferably 30 ° C. or lower in consideration of vehicle fire prevention and the amount of power that can be supplied by the battery 30.
Since the sheet heating element 20 is in close contact with the vehicle inner surface of the windshield by the action of the constant load spring 25 and the suction cup 27, snow and ice on the surface of the windshield are solved even at the above heating temperature. It is enough for a dregs.
When the user gets on the vehicle, the snow and ice on the windshield surface are thawed, and the visibility through the windshield is sufficiently secured. If you remove it in the reverse order, you can start immediately.

As a countermeasure against a case where the user does not get on at the initial scheduled time for some reason, the sheet heating element 20 is automatically supplied from the battery 30 after the time required for the timer means 44 has elapsed from the start time. It is also possible to provide a cut-off timer function for stopping power supply to the device.
Even if the cut-off timer function is not provided and power is supplied from the battery 30 to the planar heating element 20 without any limit, an in-vehicle battery that supplies power for starting the engine is provided separately. Even when the battery 30 is in a so-called battery exhausted state, there is no problem that the engine cannot be started.

  The battery 30 can be charged by charging means 50 such as an alternator 52 attached to the engine or a solar power generation panel 54 attached to the roof of a car. The charging control means 42 of the power supply switching control unit 40 sets the charging operation from the alternator 52 to the battery 30 so as to generate power only when the vehicle decelerates, so that deterioration of fuel consumption due to driving of the alternator 52 is prevented. be able to. Further, charging from the solar power generation panel 54 is preferable in that it can be performed at all times. The overcharge to the battery 30 can be prevented by the charge control means 42.

  According to the configuration of the vehicle windshield / ice / snow melting device 10 described above, it is impossible to start the engine due to a troublesome operation such as switching on the vehicle windshield / ice / snow melting device 10 in advance before departure, or due to battery exhaustion. It is very easy to use in that the user can be freed from worries such as ending up.

Another embodiment of the planar heating element 20 will be described. FIG. 5 is a plan view showing an example of another embodiment of the planar heating element. Here, the reference numerals used in the explanation part of the above-described planar heating element 20 are attached, and the detailed explanation of the configuration of each part is omitted.
The planar heating element 20 shown in FIG. 5 is an example of a configuration in which the configuration of the constant load spring 25 and the suction cup 27 is omitted and a cheaper vehicle windshield ice / snow melting device 10 is provided. As shown in FIG. 5, the planar heating element 20 is characterized in that folding lines 29 are formed along the short direction with a predetermined interval in the longitudinal direction. The arrangement position of the fold line 29 is adjusted to the position of the bent portion 23 of the graphite sheet 22. Further, adjacent folding lines 29, 29,... Are alternately formed with mountain fold lines and valley fold lines.

The sheet heating element 20 can be folded into a required shape by the fold line 29 formed in this way, so that it can be made compact when stored.
When the planar heating element 20 as shown in FIG. 5 is disposed at a position close to the surface of the windshield, the planar heating element 20 can be sandwiched between the sun visor of the vehicle and the windshield. . According to this, it is possible to maintain the state in which the planar heating element 20 and the windshield are arranged close to each other, so that it is sufficiently possible to add heat generated by the planar heating element 20 to the windshield in a concentrated manner. .

As described above, the present invention has been described in detail based on the embodiments, but the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, the graphite sheet 22 may be formed into a corrugated shape in which the bent portions 23 are arranged at a predetermined interval by bending the elongated graphite sheet 22 in the thickness direction. . If this form is adopted, a punching press die is not required, so that the manufacturing cost of the graphite sheet 22 can be reduced, and it is possible to easily cope with a change in the shape and size of the planar heating element 20. This is advantageous.
Moreover, in the above embodiment, although the form which embed | buried the constant load spring 25 in the planar heating element 20 is demonstrated, as shown in FIG. 7, the graphite sheet 22 is laminated by the protective film 26, and as shown in FIG. A constant load spring 25 may be attached to one surface side of the formed planar heating element 20 by a known method such as adhesion. In this case, the labor for forming the insulating coating on the constant load spring 25 can be saved, which is advantageous in that the manufacturing cost can be further reduced. Although not shown, the suction cups 27 may be attached not to the both ends of the constant load spring 25 but in the vicinity of the outer peripheral edge of the planar heating element 20.

  Further, the sheet heating element 20 is not limited to the heating method using the graphite sheet 22, and is formed by coating a nonwoven fabric for preventing shrinkage expansion on a PET film and coating the coating surface with a carbon heating element. A configuration of the planar heating element 20 using another known heating method, such as a (full carbon system) planar heating element 20, may be employed.

The power supply switching control unit 40 according to the present embodiment performs an on / off switching process of power supply from the battery 30 to the planar heating element 20, but is not limited to this mode. For example, the temperature management means 46 is provided with a temperature detection means (not shown), and the temperature management means 46 supplies the sheet heating element 20 from the battery 30 based on the temperature of the sheet heating element 20 detected by the temperature detection means. You may employ | adopt the structure which enabled the process which adjusts the electric energy which should be performed.
Further, if the planar heating element 20 having PTC (Positive Temperature Coefficient) characteristics is employed, the configuration of the temperature management means 46 can be omitted.

Moreover, in the above embodiment, although the planar heating element 20 demonstrated the form of the planar heating element 20 formed in what is called one piece of the shape matched with the shape of the windshield, it formed in a required shape. A plurality of unit sheet heating elements (not shown) are combined, the unit sheet heating elements are electrically and mechanically connected, and the entire surface of the windshield is covered with the assembly of unit sheet heating elements. You may make it install.
Furthermore, it is also possible to adopt a form in which the planar heating element 20 and the unit planar heating element are attached to the outer surface of the windshield.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Car windshield ice snow melting apparatus 20 Planar heating element 22 Graphite sheet 23 Bending part 24 Power supply terminal 25 Constant load spring 26 Protective film 27 Suction cup 32, 48 Power socket 29 Folding line 30 Battery 40 Power supply switching control part 42 Charge control means 44 Timer means 46 Temperature management means 50 Charging means 52 Alternator 54 Solar power generation panel

Claims (6)

A planar heating element attached to the windshield of the car;
A power supply for supplying power to the planar heating element;
A power supply switching control unit disposed between the planar heating element and the power source and configured to switch on / off the power supply to the planar heating element;
The power source is provided separately from the power source for starting the vehicle, and is provided so as to be able to be charged by charging means.
The windshield ice / snow melting apparatus for vehicles, wherein the power supply switching control unit is configured to be able to execute on / off switching of power supply to the planar heating element by a timer means.   2. The vehicle windshield ice / snow melting device according to claim 1, wherein the planar heating element has a fixing means for tightly contacting the windshield. As the fixing means, the planar heating element is provided with a constant load spring and a suction cup formed so as to be capable of being wound,
3. The vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the sheet heating element is provided so as to be in close contact with the windshield by adsorbing the suction cup to the windshield in a state where the constant load spring is extended. Windshield ice and snow melting device. The constant load spring is attached to the planar heating element so as to be in a state where the required range at both ends protrudes from the outer peripheral edge of the planar heating element,
The windshield ice / snow melting device for vehicles according to claim 3, wherein the suction cups are attached to both ends of the constant load spring.   5. The vehicle windshield ice / snow melting device according to claim 3, wherein a portion of the constant load spring overlapping the planar heating element in a plan view is embedded in the planar heating element.   2. A windshield ice / snow melting apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the sheet heating element is formed with a folding line that allows the sheet heating element to be folded and accommodated.

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